Abortion and Euthanasia - Study Notes

Footnotes:
  - 10. Ibid., p. 328.
  - 11. Ibid., p. 329.
  - 12. For classic discussions of sexism in the civil rights movement, see:
    - Susan Brownmiller, Against Our Will: Men, Women, and Rape (New York: Simon & Schuster, 1975), esp. pp. 210-255.
    - Michelle Wallace, Black Macho and the Myth of the Superwoman (New York: Dial Press, 1978).
  - 13. Michael Tooley, "Abortion and Infanticide," in The Problem of Abortion, ed. Joel Feinberg (Belmont, CA: Wadsworth, 1983).
  - 14. MacKinnon, Feminism Unmodified, p. 95.
  - 15. Discusses women’s roles and fears regarding women’s liberation and abortion policies, see: Kristen Luker, Abortion and the Politics of Motherhood (Berkeley: University of California Press, 1984), esp. pp. 158-215.
  - 16. Alice Schwarzer, After the Second Sex: Conversations with Simone de Beauvoir (New York: Pantheon Books, 1984), p. 114.
  - 17. Nancy Chodorow, "Feminism and Difference," Socialist Review, 46 (1979): 66.

Personhood in Abortion: What role does personhood play in Markowitz's defense of abortion?
Autonomy Defense: What is the "autonomy defense"? Critically evaluate Markowitz's stance on it.
Abortion Arguments Comparison: Compare and contrast Alison Jaggar's argument for abortion with Judith Jarvis Thomson's. Determine which argument is stronger and substantiate your view.
Sacrifice for Others: Under what conditions may individuals be required to sacrifice for others? Assess your views against Markowitz's.
Feminism’s Role: How should feminism inform discussions of abortion permissibility according to Markowitz? Argue whether the feminist standpoint should be more pronounced in legal and philosophical debates on abortion.

Loretta J. Ross situates African-American women's abortion rights within the larger struggles against:
  - Racism
  - Sexism
  - Poverty
Defines "pro-life" and "pro-choice":
- Pro-life: the right to have, or not have, children.
- Pro-choice: the right to raise children free from racism, sexism, and poverty.
Focuses on the agency of African-American women in abortion debates.
Shares personal reproductive crises reflective of experiences as a Black, poor, and female individual in America.

Activism is an integral part of Ross's life and is shaped by extensive experiences with poor women wanting genuine choices regarding childbearing.
Historical context: Misconceptions about African-American involvement in reproductive rights; need to contextualize struggles historically linked to racism, sexism, and poverty.
Ross criticizes the reductionist views that question whether African-American women support abortion — it’s not mere support but about context, necessity, and agency.

African-American women have historically engaged in strategies to control their fertility as acts of resistance against the oppressive conditions of slavery.
Emphasizes that conversations about African-American women’s reproductive history are often overlooked or simplified.
Notes that even as the public narrative focuses on Black women, myths overshadow their contributions to reproductive freedom movements.

Ross hopes to document African-American women's herstory, emphasizing the depth and importance of their activism in pursuing reproductive freedoms.
Addresses dismissive attitudes towards African-American women's political consciousness on issues of reproductive rights and gender equality.

Ross recounts her own reproductive history:
  - Became a teen mother at 15 due to lack of options and information about sexuality and birth control.
  - Endured difficult pregnancies and the complexities of being an African-American woman involved in the reproductive rights movement.
  - Faced the medical system's failures, resulting in personal trauma related to contraceptive methods and medical negligence.
  - Highlights her activism not as an isolated incident but part of a broader struggle for freedom and control over one’s body.

1800s: Approximately 20% of the U.S. population were African-American slaves, influencing reproductive control.
Slavery fostered forced breeding, preventing Black women from accessing birth control and abortion.
Ross cites historical evidence of Black women's agency in reproductive choices throughout slavery, illustrating how they practiced methods to control their fertility.

J. M. Rodrique's work highlights the desire of Black women to actively participate in the birth control movement, contradicting stereotypes of passivity.
By the early 20th century, socio-economic factors led to declining birth rates among African-Americans as a conscious choice aligning with health and economic stability.

Fears of depopulation and racist ideologies shaped views on African-American motherhood in the early 20th century.
Many parents perceived eugenic policies as damaging to Black communities, igniting tensions between motherhood and reproductive rights; early feminists often allied with eugenicists.

Describe illegal abortion practices within the African-American community prior to legalization.
The connection between the civil rights movement and reproductive rights, demonstrating how illegal practices thrived due to systemic oppression.
Statistics: 80% of deaths from illegal abortions involved Black and Puerto Rican women before abortion's legalization.

Advocates for a broader recognition of the history of African-American women's contributions to reproductive rights, emphasizing the interplay of race, class, and gender in the movement for abortion rights.
Call to Action: Urges acknowledgment of historical injustices faced by African-American women within feminist and civil rights movements.
Establishes a need for ongoing activism and dialogue around reproductive freedoms, linking to contemporary discussions on body autonomy and racism.

African-American women have navigated complexities around their reproductive rights shaped by historical oppression and resilience.
Their activism must be recognized and integrated into the narratives of both feminist and civil rights movements.

Future movements must understand the duality of race and gender in addressing reproductive rights, promoting a narrative built on collective history and agency.

Why does Ross believe that the history of abortion and birth control is critical for feminism and civil rights?
Compare Ross’s and Markowitz’s integration of feminism into the abortion debate.
Discuss Ross’s perspective on class and race in the abortion controversy. How does this insight affect the overall discussion?
How does Ross articulate the connection between personal choice in reproductive rights and collective community health?
Analyze the implications of Ross's statement that abortion does not automatically create freedom but is essential for self-determination.
Compare and contrast the arguments of Judith Jarvis Thomson, Sally Markowitz, Don Marquis, and Ross on abortion, discussing strengths and weaknesses in their positions while striving for impartiality.

A comprehensive list of cited works, including contributions by prominent figures such as Audre Lorde, Patricia Hill Collins, and historical texts on reproductive rights, women’s health, and African-American activism.